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About Sea World Mommy

Mom who's crazy in love with her family. We love SeaWorld the Marine/Adventure Park, but also the SEA World, our big blue ocean planet Earth, and all of our amazing fellow inhabitants, both in and out of the water.
Before I began my journey as a mom, I was an editor at both a national pet magazine with a 250K circulation and a regional newspaper. I've also volunteered and been a substitute teacher for 20 years. Now I write for the mere joy of sharing how much fun I have with my son at SeaWorld and other marine parks. My public audience has gotten a bit smaller, but my private one has the biggest heart on the planet, so I'd say it's a fair trade. :-)

Monster Jam roars into Camping World Stadium in Orlando this Saturday, January 19, 2019. The 2019 season of Monster Jam®, the unexpected, unscripted, and unforgettable family-friendly motor sport, will bring a new level of high-flying, four-wheel excitement to the entire family with racing, two-wheel skills and freestyle competitions.

When I first started going to Monster Jam events as an invited Feld Ambassador*, I was initially curious. I’m not exactly the rough-and-tumble type. That said, I was certain my son and husband would like it, so I was happy to go and we had a great time!

Fast forward to today. Watching the excitement of the Monster Jam competition and hanging out for every minute of the Party in the Pits is a highlight of my year. It’s really a load of fun, and seeing the looks on kids (and adults!) faces is priceless.

First stop: Party in the Pits. No other sport has such a one-on-one “festival” before every competition. Fancy a photo with a fun character (like Curly the Cone from Dairy Queen pictured above!)? Check. Want your favorite driver’s autograph and a picture? Check. Want to watch motorcycles and their daredevil drivers put on a high-flying show? Check. Enjoy looking at cool products (like a row of the latest fully-loaded 2019 Fords!)? Check! Plus there there’s an opportunity for kids to buy a Lowes Build-a-Truck kit and hammer it up right there!

On Saturday, expect more than 12 trucks and drivers vying to be the Orlando champion, including:

TICKETS: Tickets are affordably priced for the whole family with seats starting at $15 each.

Discount Code

Receive 20% off select seats with code 20off. Not valid on VIP seating. Hurry for the best available seats! Code expires January 18, 2019.

Pit Party Early Access starts at $35 per person.

Monster Jam drivers are trained, world-class male and female athletes who have mastered not only the physical strength and mental stamina needed to compete, but the vital dexterity to control 12,000-pound machines capable of doing backflips, vertical two-wheel skills and racing at speeds up to 70 miles per hour to produce jaw-dropping, live motor sports action seen around the world.

Raise a glass this weekend, as the all-new Bier Fest kicks off this Saturday at Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay. Park guests can enjoy the Tampa Bay craft beer scene and Florida’s best thrill rides each weekend from August 25 through September 16, including Labor Day. This unique festival will offer more than 100 different beers and a contemporary menu with traditional roots.

More than 100 beers from 60 different breweries around the world will rotate throughout the four-weekend festival, including some of Florida’s best-known craft beers and favorites from around the world. Bier Fest is included in park admission and also features live entertainment and flavorful fare.

The best way to get a taste of all the flavors of the event is with the purchase of a Bier Fest Sampler, starting at $29.99. Available in quantities of five or ten, Samplers allow a choice of any food or beverage sample throughout the festival. Pass Members get an exclusive offer: 12-items for the same price as a 10-item Sampler. The purchase of an Annual Pass at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay starts at only $14 per month for unlimited visits for a full year, and includes fan-favorite events such as Christmas Town® and the Food and Wine Festival.

Food and beverage is not included with park admission and is available for an additional fee. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages.

Be the first to know about new events, special deals and future announcements by following the park’s blog or join the conversation using #ThrillsOnTap on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.

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About Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay is the ultimate family adventure, offering 300 acres of fascinating attractions based on exotic explorations around the world. Busch Gardens is a unique blend of thrilling rides, one of the country’s premier zoos with more than 12,000 animals, and live shows and events, providing unrivaled experiences for guests of every age. For more information, visit BuschGardensTampaBay.com. Busch Gardens is owned by SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SEAS), a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter, and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world.

Whatcha doing this weekend? If you’re up for family-friendly excitement, Feld Entertainment suggests the all new Monster Jam® Triple Threat Series August 18, 2018, their tour stop in Orlando, FL at Amway Center. The new season will bring motorsport fans to the edge of their seats with adrenaline-charged, high-flying, four-wheel excitement that is unlike anything ever seen at the stadium style events.

Monster Jam has been coming to Orlando to the Camping World Stadium for more than 30 years. The Triple Threat Arena Tour debuts in Orlando for the first time and is an entirely different format than Orlando fans have seen at the stadium. This upcoming tour will feature eight of the most talented Monster Jam drivers competing on three vehicles during the competition. Orlando fans will witness a fierce battle for the championship with each competitor using customized high-powered vehicles: Monster Jam Speedsters, Monster Jam ATVs and the famous Monster Jam trucks closer to the action than ever before.

The eight athletes all competing in individual racing and skill competitions and overall event championship are:

Unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable, Monster Jam takes center stage in the world’s most iconic venues like Amway Center, sporting meticulously manicured dirt tracks created with the sole purpose of pushing these perfectly engineered, larger-than-life trucks to the limit.

Monster Jam is one of the only sports where male and female world-class drivers, some generational rivals, are equals competing for the same championship on the same track. Following racing, just like the show at Camping World Stadium, Monster Jam fans in every city will have the chance to vote for the truck winner in the donut, wheelie and freestyle competitions by real-time, in-arena fan voting on their smartphones. This tour features two female athletes among the eight total competitors.

Tickets will go on pre-sale to Feld Preferred members on April 10, 2018 at 10:00AM ET. The public on sale will take place on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at 10:00AM ET. All tickets are reserved. Pit Party passes are available for purchase in advance as well via the Venue Box Office, Ticketmaster.com or 800-745- 3000. Subject to facility fee, plus convenience and handling charges. Amway Center is located at 400 W Church St, Orlando, FL 32801. For group ticket sales and information, call 866-248-8740, or e-mail groupsales@feldinc.com.

Special Discount Code:

Save $5 off select seats with code 5BLOG. Not valid on VIP seating. Hurry for the best available seats! Code expires August 17, 2018.

Zombie Party:

Want more Monster Jam in your life? Come to the party. The ZOMBIE Party at The Ave Cafe.

Before the adrenaline-charged, four-wheel excitement that is Monster Jam® Triple Threat Series opens at the Amway Center, fans have a chance to meet famed Zombie driver Bari Musawwir and get up close to his customized high-powered speedster and ATV during a meet-and-greet at Ace Cafe Orlando, in partnership with iHeart Radio.

Free admission, open to the public and fans of all ages are invited.

• Little fans ages 12 and under are encouraged to sport their favorite Zombie gear and can get their faces painted like a zombie, courtesy of Hart and Huntington Tattoo artists.

• Ocoee resident Bari Musawwir (Zombie), the first local driver to ever appear in a Monster Jam (he is also the sport’s first African American driver and won Rookie of the Year in 2012) will take photographs and sign autographs with fans.

• Get up close to the Zombie speedster and ATV that will be used during the competition when Monster Jam Triple Threat Series opens for the first time in Orlando on Saturday, August 18th with shows at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

• Flash drawing for one lucky fan plus three guests attending the event to stay for dinner with Musawwir. Must be present to win at time of drawing at 7:15 p.m.

• The public can enjoy food and drink specials.

• Free parking is available on-site on a first-come, first-serve basis for Ace customers.

WHEN: Friday, August 17, 6-7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Ace Cafe Orlando, 100 West Livingston Street, Orlando, FL 32801. On the corner of Garland Avenue and Livingston Street. Parking is also available in nearby parking garages. Click here for a map.

Bottlenose dolphin found with life-threatening shark bite injuries gets a second chance at life

ORLANDO, Fla. (June 29, 2018) – Yesterday, members of the SeaWorld Orlando Rescue Team and the Georgia Aquarium Conservation Field Station, along with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) returned “Sharkie” to the ocean near St. Augustine, Fla. after an intense four month rehabilitation at SeaWorld Orlando. The 265 lb. sub-adult Atlantic bottlenose dolphin was rescued in February on Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. after FWC reached out for assistance due to the animal’s life-threatening injuries. Georgia Aquarium Conservation Field Station veterinarian, Dr. Rose Borkowski was on scene alongside FWC and conferred with NOAA Fisheries after assessing the animal and the decision was made to transport the animal to SeaWorld Orlando’s Cetacean Rehabilitation Facility.

The dolphin, which had sustained multiple shark bite wounds to her body and right pectoral flipper and was suffering from pneumonia, was successfully transported to SeaWorld Orlando where she has been receiving rehabilitation care for the past four months.

“Georgia Aquarium Conservation Field Station is proud to be a part of the initial rescue and release of this dolphin following its lengthy rehabilitation. Now, seeing it healthy enough to be released shows the dedication and hard work by all those involved,” said George Biedenbach, director of the Georgia Aquarium Conservation Field Station. “Our goal is to always assist animals in need as best we can, no matter the circumstances and we’re glad to see another animal thriving. Every animal counts and it’s through collaborative work like this that we can ensure the health and safety of so many ocean animals.”

“This is a very exciting day for us. To see this animal in the state she was in, bitten by sharks, emaciated, in trouble and with life threatening injuries, to as healthy as she is now to swim back out in the ocean, it’s just a wonderful day and that’s why we do this,” said Jon Peterson, Manager of SeaWorld Rescue Operations.

During her stay, SeaWorld veterinarians and the Animal Rescue Team provided 24-hour care to the dolphin, treating her with antibiotics, dewormers, anti-inflammatories, physical therapy and wound care. Prior to her release, the dolphin was fitted with a satellite tag which will enable stranding network partner organizations to continue to monitor her.

The dolphin passed a major milestone in her journey to return when she passed a hearing test in April administered by NOAA Fisheries with the help of SeaWorld. The testing showed the dolphin has full hearing through the entire frequency range necessary for echolocation. It is important for dolphins undergoing rehabilitation to pass a hearing test to ensure hearing loss was not a factor in their stranding. Hearing loss is detrimental to wild dolphins, as they rely on echolocation to hunt, navigate and avoid predators.

SeaWorld Orlando’s Animal Rescue Team is on call 24/7 to save and care for injured, orphaned or ill animals. In collaboration with NOAA Fisheries and other members of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment operates one of the world’s most respected programs authorized to rescue ill and injured marine animals, with the goal to rehabilitate and return them to the ocean. SeaWorld animal experts have helped more than 31,000 animals in need – ill, injured, orphaned and abandoned – for more than five decades.

Footage of rescued dolphins produced by SeaWorld under the National Marine Fisheries Service Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program.

About Georgia Aquarium Conservation Field Station

Georgia Aquarium Conservation Field Station (GA-CFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Marineland, Fla. GA-CFS is dedicated to research and stranding response of dolphins, small whales, and turtles in northeast Florida and focuses on research and conservation. The team at GA-CFS supports Georgia Aquarium research projects both in the field and on-location and provides unique expertise and experience. GA-CFS exists to increase public awareness and contribute to the scientific study of aquatic life and provides educational outreach to local communities and schools. For more information visit www.georgiaaquarium.org/conserve

About SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™ is a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world. The company is one of the world’s foremost zoological organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, behavioral training, husbandry and veterinary care. The company collectively cares for what it believes is one of the largest zoological collections in the world and has helped lead advances in the care of animals. The company also rescues and rehabilitates marine and terrestrial animals that are ill, injured, orphaned or abandoned, with the goal of returning them to the wild. The SeaWorld® rescue team has helped more than 31,000 animals in need over the last 50 years.

The company owns or licenses a portfolio of recognized brands including SeaWorld, Busch Gardens® and Sea Rescue®. Over its more than 50-year history, the company has built a diversified portfolio of 12 destination and regional theme parks that are grouped in key markets across the United States, many of which showcase its one-of-a-kind zoological collection. The company’s theme parks feature a diverse array of rides, shows and other attractions with broad demographic appeal which deliver memorable experiences and a strong value proposition for its guests.

Postponed due to the Hurricane, Disney On Ice presents Dare To Dream is rescheduled for May 11–13, 2018 at the Amway Center in Orlando. Make unforgettable memories with Mickey, Minnie and all your Disney friends and save 20% off select seats with code SAVE20. (Not valid on premium VIP seating.) Hurry for the best available seats! Code expires May 10, 2018.

Photo credit: Feld Entertainment

Hosts Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse lead an expedition across raging seas and snow covered mountains. These extraordinary tales will be told with a pantheon of Disney favorites Celebrate what’s possible as five Disney heroines spark the courage inside us all at Disney On Ice presents Dare To Dream! Meet Moana, Maui and Friends from Disney’s Moana in their first Disney on Ice tour, plus beloved characters from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, Tangled and Cinderella and more, all telling extraordinary tales through music, dance, costuming and theatrics on ice!

Beautiful production numbers invite audiences into the world of Beauty and the Beast, as Belle shows what it means to be fearless. Along with her new friends in the enchanted castle, Belle is encouraged to step outside the ordinary and find joy in the bleakest situation. As she looks beyond the harsh exterior of the Beast to reach his gentle heart, fans learn there are teachable moments in everyday life.

Your favorite sing-along-able Disney music (not sure if that’s a word!) is half the fun of the show. You KNOW you know every single word, and to hear it performed amid the spectacle of the show is one of the key elements that brings smiles to faces of every age. Guests are welcomed into the Disney world to discover their inner hero through the story and song.

Performances:
Friday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 11 at 11 a.m.
Saturday, May 11 at 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 11 at 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 13 at 1 p.m.
Sunday, May 13 at 5 p.m.

Tickets:
Ticket Prices: Start at $18. Market pricing applies to all tickets. Rates can fluctuate based on factors that affect supply and demand. Lock in your price and location today! Visit DisneyOnIce.com for additional show information and to buy tickets.

*I am a Feld Entertainment Blogger Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and other exclusive opportunities.

All photo from footage of rescued dolphins produced by SeaWorld under the National Marine Fisheries Service Marine Mammal Health and Response Program.

An Atlantic bottlenose dolphin that was attacked by a shark in late February off Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and became stranded as a result of the injuries continues to receive treatment at SeaWorld Orlando.

At time of the rescue, SeaWorld veterinarian Dr. Lara Croft described the dolphin as being in “critical condition,” based on the “extensiveness of this animal’s shark bite wounds” and how thin she was. The dolphin sustained multiple shark bite wounds to her body and right pectoral flipper.

The dolphin was successfully transported to SeaWorld Orlando’s Cetacean Rehabilitation Facility for further evaluation and rehabilitation. After an initial veterinary exam and treatment, the dolphin was able to swim unsupported at the park’s rescue facility.

Through the course of her treatment, SeaWorld Orlando veterinarians discovered that in addition to shark bite wounds the dolphin was suffering from pneumonia. Over the last month, SeaWorld veterinarians and the Animal Rescue Team have been treating her with antibiotics, dewormers, anti-inflammatories, physical therapy, and wound care.

This week, veterinarians performed radiographs to confirm if the antibiotics and treatment are clearing up the pneumonia. They will continue to monitor and run additional tests to confirm.

Once her pneumonia clears, the next milestones for her rehabilitation will be for her to continue to gain weight and strength and pass a hearing test. All rescued cetaceans must pass a hearing test administered by NOAA Fisheries to ensure hearing loss was not a factor in their stranding. Hearing loss is detrimental to wild cetaceans as they rely on echolocation to hunt, navigate, and avoid predators.

The SeaWorld Animal Rescue Team and veterinarians will continue to provide 24-hour care and treatment, with the ultimate goal to rehabilitate and return her to the wild.

SeaWorld Orlando’s Animal Rescue Team is on call 24/7 to save and care for injured, orphaned or ill animals. In collaboration with NOAA Fisheries and other members of accredited stranding networks, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment operates one of the world’s most respected programs authorized to rescue ill and injured marine animals, with the goal to rehabilitate and return to the ocean. SeaWorld animal experts have helped more than 31,000 animals in need – ill, injured, orphaned and abandoned – for more than five decades.

Footage of rescued dolphins produced by SeaWorld under the National Marine Fisheries Service Marine Mammal Health and Response Program.

About Georgia Aquarium Conservation Field Station

Georgia Aquarium Conservation Field Station (GA-CFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Marineland, Fla. GA-CFS is dedicated to research and stranding response of dolphins, small whales, and turtles in northeast Florida and focuses on research and conservation. The team at GA-CFS supports Georgia Aquarium research projects both in the field and on-location and provides unique expertise and experience. GA-CFS exists to increase public awareness and contribute to the scientific study of aquatic life and provides educational outreach to local communities and schools. For more information visit www.georgiaaquarium.org/conserve

About SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™ is a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world. The company is one of the world’s foremost zoological organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, behavioral training, husbandry and veterinary care. The company collectively cares for what it believes is one of the largest zoological collections in the world and has helped lead advances in the care of animals. The company also rescues and rehabilitates marine and terrestrial animals that are ill, injured, orphaned or abandoned, with the goal of returning them to the wild. The SeaWorld® rescue team has helped more than 31,000 animals in need over the last 50 years.

I haven’t been to a State Fair in… at least 25 years… but THIS is the year I’m coming back. My, albeit fuzzy, memories of it centered around the rides and of course the food. On the menu: all the standards you’ve come to love and expect from a fair (think hot dogs, corn dogs, funnel cakes, strawberry shortcake, kettle corn, elephant ears, cotton candy, BBQ, gyros, giant pretzels, fried Oreos, ) and then some on-no-they-didn’t creations including Chicken and Waffle pizza, Surf N Turf Sundae, Bacon Bomb Sandwich, Doughnut Burgers and Deep Fried Strawberry Shortcake Sundaes.

Speaking of food, find out what The Sunshine State provides and be inspired to start a sustainable garden. Located just outside Gate 3, the Florida State Fair Learning Garden will give guests a “taste” of what it takes to grow your own plants.

I enjoy learning new things and look forward to the interactive displays. Want to see how artisans spin yarn? Caroline Tacker from St. Petersburg will be demonstrating her craft to visitors. Stop by and say hi, and thank her for creating all-natural washcloths for chemo patients who have sensitive skin and cannot use regular washcloths. #KickCancer

My son is excited to ride tons of rides with his ride arm band. He’ll be tilting, whirling, zigging and zagging. (We’d best try the fair food after all that excitement!)

World’s LARGEST WORKING LEGO roller coaster

He’s also going to be glued to the Ninja Experience show. The martial arts experts will wow with their extreme breaking, kicking, and flipping that the whole family will enjoy. There will be three free shows daily at 11:30 am; 3:30 and 6:30 pm (included with ticket price). I know he’ll also go wild over the world’s largest working LEGO roller coaster built by Local Brick Artist James Burrows from The Brick University in Spring Hill.

There are so many things to do and see. Too many to list on this page without writing for hours! Visit the Florida State Fair Facebook page or their website to hear about performances and more. There’s a TON to do. Follow Florida State Fair on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the lowdown on all things Florida State Fair!.

Mooove on over to the Salute to Ag Exhibit. Visit beef cows, dairy cows, chickens and a variety of other animals. Maybe you’ll be able to bottle feed a baby calf, hold a baby chick, or watch a calf being born in the Moo-ternity Ward!

While we’re talking social, visit my Instagram post and comment on my State Fair post for a chance to win 4 tickets! Hurry! One random poster will be selected at random to win Tuesday, February 6, 2018 at 5:30 p.m.

Want more chances to win tickets? And love pizza? Check out the Hungry Howie’s pizza eating contest. While there’s no way I’d win THAT one, it’s going to be fun to watch. One lucky winner will receive pizza for a year!

I was given 8 admission tickets to the Florida State Fair in exchange for this post. All comments, opinions, and little-girl excitement are mine.

Don’t miss Kazual’s smooth a capella harmonies on the Sleep Number Stage with FREE shows daily at noon, 2 PM and 5 PM.

Orlando and I-Drive welcomes visitors of all ages from around the world. Recently they welcomed some really old ones, millions of years old to be exact, to the new Extreme Dinosaurs: The Exhibition, next door to Titanic: The Exhibition (another in the Premier Exhibits family).

I had the opportunity of visiting right before they opened. Here’s a video.

As luck would have it, Spectrum News 13‘s Allison Walker Torres was there getting a sneak peek as well. My 10-year-old excitedly took on the role of junior docent and showed her around. Daniel gave her the tour and described various dinosaur facts, including the relatively recent notion that dinosaurs had feathers. He also shared how one dinosaur’s brain is the size of a walnut. Click the picture for the #doubletake gif in action.

We had a great time learning about dinosaurs from different eras, and reading all of the placards and displays.

Extreme Dinosaurs is part museum/part attraction. They have interesting, interactive and fun elements, and guests can expect to spend about two hours going through, if you stop and read all of the informational posters and signs, and visit the dino dig.

We could’ve doubled that time estimation, because we are really into dinosaurs, and we are also big fans of going to museums. We read each and every informational display. Just want to see the dinos? That trip will be a lot shorter. Personally I recommend soaking in every detail, and “bone”-ing up on pre-historic history. Be sure to really look at the exceptional detail in the animatronic dinosaurs. World-renowned scientists collaborated on the designs and final creations.

Fossilized dino poop. No sh!t.

What’s really cool about the whole museum is that there are authentic artifacts, not just the beautifully made animatronics. Yes my son loves the blinking, snarling, moving gigantic dinosaurs, but was equally as fascinated with the real fossilized dinosaur poop and eggs. Visitors will find 6 large-scale skeletons of dinosaurs and over 16 real and replica fossils.

Note: Photos cannot be taken inside the attraction, however there is a green screen photo op when you first go in. Purchase of photo is not required nor is it part of your admission price.

Win a 4-pack of tickets to Extreme Dinosaurs: The Exhibition.

To enter: Click on the Rafflecopter image and follow the prompts. For the “leave a comment entry,” comment below on THIS post, describing your favorite dinosaur or that of your kids. Inquiring minds want to know.

Monster Jam rolls into Orlando at Camping World Stadium on Saturday, January 20, 2018. Gates open at 5 p.m., opening ceremonies are at 6:30 p.m., and racing starts at 7 p.m. Fans can catch some of the show’s BIGGEST stars around Orlando THIS Thursday.

I was invited to attend the Tampa show* as a Feld Ambassador in anticipation of the Orlando show. Though I didn’t personally attend (due to circumstances beyond my control), my husband, 10-year-old son and a friend of ours were there and sent me photos and video play-by-plays. It’s exciting even when enjoying it vicariously, lol.

They absolutely loved the pre-event Party in the Pits where they got autographs and photos and had loads of fun.

They’re going to try and see them again this week.

Seven of the giant monster trucks from Monster Jam®, will be on display in Orlando this Thursday, January 18. For fans, it’s a chance to see and take pictures with the enormous trucks before these beasts roar into Camping World Stadium on Saturday, January 20. Best part, it’s all free to the public.

Approximately 12 feet tall and about 12 feet wide, Monster Jam trucks are custom-designed machines that sit atop 66-inch-tall tires and weigh a minimum of 10,000 pounds. Built for short, high-powered bursts of speed, Monster Jam trucks generate 1,500 to 2,000 horsepower and are capable of speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. Monster Jam trucks can fly up to 125 to 130 feet (a distance greater than 14 cars side by side) and up to 35 feet in the air.

Note: They FLIP sometimes, too! My family sent me video of one of the night’s biggest end-over-ends. WOW. It never fails to make the heart race!

Monster Jam® is adrenaline-charged family entertainment providing jaw-dropping displays and gravity-defying feats that promise to always leave fans entertained. Monster Jam events feature some of the most recognizable trucks in the world including Grave Digger®, Max-D, El Toro Loco® and many more. World-class drivers push these perfectly-engineered Monster Jam trucks to their limits in Freestyle, “2-Wheel Skills” and Racing competitions that will put families on the edge of their seats and leave them craving more of this unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable event!

Do not miss the Monster Jam Pit Party, Saturday, January 20, from 2:30-5:30 p.m. This event provides unprecedented access to the Monster Jam trucks and drivers. This unique experience in the world of motorsports gives fans access to see the trucks up close, take pictures, meet the drivers and get their autographs.

New in 2018, the Pit Party Early Access Pass is available to every fan who purchases a ticket to the event. The pass provides early entry into the Pit Party from 1:30-2:30 p.m. and serves as the regular Pit Party pass from 2:30-5:30 p.m. Monster Jam drivers will depart from the Pit Party at 5 p.m. The Pit Party Early Access Pass must be accompanied by an event ticket, and quantities are limited.

Tickets and Pit Party Passes are available at the Amway Center Box office in advance, online at http://www.ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at 800-745-3000. Same day event ticket and pit pass required for entry to pit party. All seats reserved. Subject to facility fee, plus convenience and handling charges. Camping World Stadium is located at One Citrus Bowl Place, Orlando, FL 32805.

About Feld Entertainment
Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that uplift the human spirit and bring people together. With millions of people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment’s productions have appeared in more than 75 countries and on six continents to date and include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMSOIL Arenacross, Disney On Ice, Disney Live! and Marvel Universe LIVE! More information about Feld Entertainment is available online at http://www.feldentertainment.com.

*As a Feld Ambassador I received 4 tickets to attend the Tampa show in exchange for posting about the Orlando event. All the excitement, big smiles and commentary on fun are 100% my own (or those of my kiddo!).

ORLANDO, Fla. (January 10, 2018) – This morning SeaWorld Orlando and the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens returned two rehabilitated manatees. A warm water source near the St. John Boat Ramp provided the perfect location for this important manatee return.

The goal with every rescue is to rehabilitate and return the animal as quickly as possible. This remains the case even during winter months. Throughout the year, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) closely monitors environmental factors of Florida waterways including water temperatures, which allows for rehabilitated manatees to be returned year-round. Returning manatees to a warm water source also allows the rescued manatees to familiarize themselves with the warm water site so they can return to it again the next time temperatures cool down.

Rehabilitated Manatees Returned:
Harper Lee- This sub-adult female manatee was rescued on November 9, 2017 from Sikes Creek in Merritt Island Florida due to an entanglement. During her rehabilitation she received routine wound treatment as well as antibiotics for infection caused by the entanglement.

Carolina- The sub-adult female manatee was Jacksonville Zoo’s first critical care patient at their new facility. She was rescued in Charleston, South Carolina as part of a larger operation to relocate wayward manatees that found themselves trapped in the Cooper River when water temperatures quickly dropped last November. Carolina was exhibiting mild cold stress and it was determined by SeaWorld and Jacksonville veterinarians onsite that she would require rehabilitation. Over her six week rehabilitation she was able to heal from her cold stress injuries and regain her strength.

In addition to returning two rehabilitated manatees, SeaWorld Orlando transferred a young rescued manatee to the Jacksonville Zoo. As part of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) facilities are able to work together shifting rehab animals between facilities to ensure future rescues are not turned away. With the Jacksonville Zoo taking this young rescue for continued rehabilitation, SeaWorld Orlando now has more space for future critical rescues.

Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership

As part of the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), SeaWorld Orlando is an acute care rehabilitation facility that provides life-saving medical care to rescued manatees.

The MRP is a cooperative group of non-profit, private, state, and federal entities who work together to monitor the health and survival of rehabilitated and released manatees. Information about manatees currently being tracked is available at http://www.manateerescue.org. The Florida manatee was recently reclassified from endangered to threatened, but is still at risk from both natural and human causes of injury and mortality. Exposure to red tide, cold stress and disease are all natural problems that can affect manatees. Human-caused threats include boat strikes, crushing by floodgates or locks, and entanglement in or ingestion of fishing gear.

All manatee rescue footage is produced by SeaWorld under the FWS Permit Number MA770191.

If you see an injured marine animal, you can help by calling the FWC hotline at 1-888-404-3922 or by dialing *FWC on a cellular device.

About SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SEAS) is a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world.

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world’s foremost zoological organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, training, husbandry and veterinary care. The company collectively cares for what it believes is one of the largest zoological collections in the world and has helped lead advances in the care of animals. The company also rescues and rehabilitates marine and terrestrial animals that are ill, injured, orphaned or abandoned, with the goal of returning them to the wild. The SeaWorld rescue team has helped more than 27,000 animals in need over the last 50 years.

The company owns or licenses a portfolio of globally recognized brands including SeaWorld®, Shamu® and Busch Gardens®. Over its more than 50-year history, the company has built a diversified portfolio of 11 destination and regional theme parks that are grouped in key markets across the United States, many of which showcase its one-of-a-kind zoological collection of over 800 species of animals. The company’s theme parks feature a diverse array of rides, shows and other attractions with broad demographic appeal which deliver memorable experiences and a strong value proposition for its guests.

About Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

For over 100 years, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has aimed to inspire the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experiences in a caring environment. Starting in 1914 with an animal collection of one red deer fawn, the Zoo now has more than 2,000 rare and exotic animals and 1,000 species of plants, boasting the largest botanical garden in Northeast Florida. The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is a nonprofit organization and a portion of every ticket sold goes to the over 45 conservation initiatives Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens supports around the world, and here in NE Florida. JZG is proud to be an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. For more information, visit jacksonvillezoo.org.